Dawda Jawara, the first president of The Gambia following independence from Britain, died Tuesday at the age of 95, officials said. Current President Adama Barrow, in online comments, described Jawara's death as "a great loss to the country in particular and humanity in general". Fisheries Minister James Gomez told AFP that "the former head of State Sir Dawda Jawara died this afternoon. Flags would fly at half mast" and the body will lie in state for mourners to pay their respects.

Jawara, a Glasgow-trained veterinary doctor, led the former British Colony to Independence on 18th February 1965 until July 1994 when his reign was brought to an end by a bloodless military coup led by Yahya Jammeh, who went on to rule the tiny West African state for 22 years.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019